Indigenous Peoples

This gallery gives an overview of some of the pictures of African tribal peoples and rituals available on Africa Media Online. With African tribal rituals and customs are being lost to the global culture, our photographers are actively working on capturing these rituals and cultural traditions on camera.

Matwasana initiation ceremony in Bushbuck Ridge. Twasa means to learn (to be a traditional healer). Each Mtwasa undergoes a 5 year apprenticeship/training period where they are guided by their ancestral spirit and tutors at the training school.

Zulu power: Former Deputy President, Jacob Zuma (left) and King Goodwill Zwelithini (right) dance at the Shaka Day celebrations, Stanger, in the midst of political crisis in Zuma's political career with a the Shabir Shaik trial and his own trial related to the Arms Deal. Both King Zwelithini and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party seemed to welcome Zuma's presence at the celebrations signaling a united Zulu front in South African politics

Heritage Day in South Africa Coincides with the Zulu celebration of Shaka Day in honour of the founding king of the Zulu nation. On this day the Zulu King, currently King Goodwill Zwelithini, the Zulu Royal Family, the chiefs and large crowds of Zulu subjects in traditional clothing gather to celebrate. There are speeches, but there is also much dancing and singing. It was during the speeches when all the press cameras were turned on the King and Zulu politicians of the likes of former vice president Jacob Zuma, that I managed to get close to a group of amakhosi (chieftains) to take individual portraits. It is a sign of disrespect to look an older man, and particularly an \"inkosi\" in the eye so I had to work carefully. I kept low and my subjects were fortunately gracious.

Reuben Makazhu and his wife Dadirew Gocherame have three children. The drought in the area has meant that their crops have failed and they have had no food. Even if the drought had not devastated their crops cultivation has become difficult for them, according to Reuben they have been sick for a long time. Not only do these people have to cope with malaria, cholera and other tropical diseases, with the drought starvation has become a real threat and HIV/AIDS is wide-spread. Zimbabwe�s ailing economy has also meant that income traditionally sent to this community by migrant workers is no longer there